Power charging device and mobile terminal apparatus

ABSTRACT

A charging device that includes a first battery charged at a first rate and a second battery that is charged at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate. The charging device includes an interface that receives electric power from a charger; a first switch disposed between the interface and the first battery; a second switch disposed between the second battery and the first battery; a battery voltage detection circuit that detects a voltage of the second battery; a charger detection circuit connected to the interface that detects whether power is being received from the charger; and a switch control circuit that controls the first switch and the second switch based on outputs of the charger detection circuit and the battery voltage detection circuit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 13/408,531, filed Feb.29, 2012. U.S. Ser. No. 13/408,531 claims the benefit of priority under35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/452,800 filed on Mar. 15, 2011. The entire contents of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a charging device for charging asecondary battery in a mobile device and a mobile device including thischarging device.

2. Description of Related Art

Currently, the use of mobile phone terminals and mobile informationterminals called smartphones is spreading. Each of these mobile devicesincludes a rechargeable secondary battery (i.e., a rechargeablebattery). Although uptime of the mobile devices differs depending on ausage state thereof, the larger a capacity of the secondary battery, thelonger the mobile devices can be used. However, the larger the capacityof the secondary battery, the longer it takes for the battery to reach afull charge level.

Thus, users may be unable to perform sufficient charging of thesecondary battery in a short period, such as when the users become awarethat a remaining battery level of a mobile device is low before goingout. The remaining battery level may reach empty at the time of useafter the users go out and the users may be unable to use the mobiledevice.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-49331describes a method for preparing a mobile charger/discharger capable ofperforming boost charge separately from a mobile device. In this method,users charge the mobile charger/discharger at high speed and then carrythe mobile charger/discharger with the mobile device. The users attachthe mobile charger/discharger to the mobile device at a destination toslowly charge a secondary battery of the mobile device.

SUMMARY

Generally, boost-chargeable energy devices for use in mobilechargers/dischargers have volume energy density smaller than secondarybatteries (main body batteries) in mobile devices. Thus, the size of themobile chargers/dischargers inevitably increases when electric power forfully charging the main body batteries is acquired.

When the mobile chargers/dischargers are kept in the size for satisfyingthe minimum necessary electric power to avoid this problem, the usagethereof is limited to emergency use. In such a case, since users have toperform charging of the secondary batteries in the mobile devicesseparately from charging of the mobile chargers/dischargers,inconvenience, such as a need of the respective chargers, is caused.

The present disclosure has been made based on such a background andprovides a charging device capable of satisfying both of a demand forboost charging of a mobile device and a demand for a charge capacity anda mobile device adopting this charging device.

According to a first exemplary embodiment, the disclosure is directed toa charging device that includes a first battery charged at a first rateand a second battery that is charged at a second rate, which is fasterthan the first rate. The charging device includes an interface thatreceives electric power from a charger; a first switch disposed betweenthe interface and the first battery; a second switch disposed betweenthe second battery and the first battery; a battery voltage detectioncircuit that detects a voltage of the second battery; a chargerdetection circuit connected to the interface that detects whether poweris being received from the charger; and a switch control circuit thatcontrols the first switch and the second switch based on outputs of thecharger detection circuit and the battery voltage detection circuit.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the disclosure is directed toa charging device that is selectively connected to one of a firstbattery that is charged at a first rate and a second battery that ischarged at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate. Thecharging device including an interface that receives electric power froma charger; a connector that is selectively connected to the firstbattery or the second battery; a battery identification circuit thatdetermines whether the first or second battery is connected to theconnector; and a current limiting circuit disposed between the interfaceand the connector and that limits a current of power received from thecharger to a predetermined value when the battery identification circuitdetermines that the first battery is connected to the connector.

In accordance with the present disclosure, both of a demand for boostcharging of a mobile device and a demand for a charge capacity can besatisfied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic hardwareconfiguration of a mobile device in this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of acharging unit in the mobile device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart representing an operation of the charging unitillustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram representing, as a table, the operation representedby the flowchart of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a modification in a first embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of acharging unit in a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of acurrent limiting circuit in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a modification in the second embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a modification ofthe second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a modification allowing theconfiguration of FIG. 9 to support an existing charger.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram representing a hardware configuration of amobile device supporting non-contact charging in a third embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an internalconfiguration of a non-contact charge power receiving unit in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of acharging unit supporting the non-contact charging in FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart representing an operation of the charging unit inFIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a diagram representing, as a table, the operation representedby the flowchart of FIG. 11.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of acharging unit in a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the configurationillustrated in FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail belowwith reference to the drawings. Herein, a mobile phone terminal will bedescribed as an example of a mobile device 100.

First Embodiment Configuration of First Embodiment

First, a configuration of the mobile device 100 according to thisembodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic hardwareconfiguration of the mobile device 100.

The mobile device 100 includes a control unit 120 that controls theentirety and executes necessary processing. The control unit 120 can beconstituted by a known central processing unit (CPU) or the like. Thecontrol unit 120 is connected to each unit of the mobile device 100(herein, a communication unit 102, a memory 105, an operation unit 106,a display unit 107, and a charging unit 200) through a control line 150.The display unit 107, the memory 105, a microphone 103 inputting audioon the mobile device side, and a speaker 104 outputting audio of aperson on the other end of the line are connected to the communicationcircuit 102 through a data line 160.

The communication unit 102 is a part that utilizes an antenna 101 forwireless telephone communication, demodulates a signal received from theantenna 101, and modulates a signal to be sent to the antenna 101.

The memory 105 constitutes a storage unit that stores programs executedby the control unit 120 for operating the mobile device 100, data neededfor the execution, and user data, such as a phone book and mail data.

The operation unit 106 is an input device that users use to make a phonecall or create a mail.

The display unit 107 is a display device for displaying various kinds ofdata, such as text, images, and movies, on a display screen.

A main battery 400 is a secondary battery (a first secondary battery)used as a main power source of the mobile device 100 and is, forexample, a lithium ion battery or a lithium polymer battery.

A sub battery 300 is a secondary battery (a second secondary battery)that can be charged quicker than the main battery 400 and is, forexample, a lithium ion capacitor, a lithium titanate battery, or anolivine-type lithium iron phosphate battery. A capacity of the subbattery 300 is generally smaller than that of the main battery 400. Inthis embodiment, it is assumed that full charge voltage of the subbattery 300 is lower than that of the main battery 400. Morespecifically, the voltages are set to be, but are not particularlylimited to, 4 V and 4.2 V in this embodiment.

The charging unit 200 is a part that performs charging of the mainbattery 400 and the sub battery 300 and controls operations thereof.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a configuration of the charging unit200 in the mobile device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The charging unit 200 includes a connector 201, a charger detectioncircuit 202, a sub-battery voltage detection circuit 203, first andsecond switches SW 205 and 206, first and second DC/DC converters 208and 209, a charge control circuit 210, an AND circuit 211, and aninverting circuit (an inverter) 213.

A terminal 221 connected to the main battery 400 of the mobile device100 and a terminal 222 connected to the sub battery 300 intended forboost charge are provided in the charging unit 200.

To perform boost charging of the sub battery 300 intended for boostcharge, a connector having a rated current value (5 A in thisembodiment) that is larger than a conventional one is adopted as theconnector 201 of the charging unit 200.

The charger detection circuit 202 is connected to an output end of theconnector 201. The charger detection circuit 202 is a circuit fordetecting whether a boost charger 500 is connected to the connector 201or not (that is, whether the boost charger 500 is in a connected stateor not).

The sub-battery voltage detection circuit 203 is connected to one end ofthe sub battery 300 and detects whether present voltage (VSBAT) of thesub battery 300 is equal to or higher than a threshold.

The first switch SW 205 is a switch for selectivelyconnecting/disconnecting a charge path from the charger to the mainbattery 400 serving as the first secondary battery. That is, the firstswitch SW 205 is a switch for switching between whether to performcharging of the main battery 400 from the charger or not.

The second switch SW 206 is a switch for selectivelyconnecting/disconnecting a charge path from the sub battery 300 servingas the second secondary battery to the main battery 400 serving as thefirst secondary battery. That is, the second switch SW 206 is a switchfor switching between whether to perform charging of the main battery400 from the sub battery 300 or not.

The first DC/DC converter 208 is a step-down DC/DC converter thatconverts electric power from the charger into an optimum level forperforming charging of the sub battery 300. In this example, the firstDC/DC converter 208 converts 5 V/4 A into 4.05 V/4.9 A in an ideal statewhen the boost charger 500 is connected to the connector 201. Thesevoltage and current values of the DC/DC converter are examples of a caseof using a lithium ion capacitor.

The second DC/DC converter 209 is a step-up DC/DC converter thatconverts electric power of the sub battery 300 into an optimum level forperforming charging of the main battery 400. In an ideal state of thisexample, the second DC/DC converter 209 converts 4 V/1 A into 5 V/0.8 A.

The charge control circuit 210 is a circuit that controls charging ofthe main battery 400. Contents of the control are monitoring of voltageof the main battery 400 (e.g., monitoring of full charge and abnormalvoltage), monitoring of current flowing through the main battery 400,and monitoring of temperature, for example.

The AND circuit 211 is a circuit that outputs a control signal of the SW205 on the basis of a result of logical AND of output of the chargerdetection circuit 202 and output of the sub-battery voltage detectioncircuit 203. In the example of this embodiment, the output of the ANDcircuit 211 is ON if the charger exists (an adapter (ADP) exists) andthe sub-battery voltage VSBAT exceeds a predetermined value (4 V here).In this way, the switch SW 205 is connected.

The inverting circuit 213 is a circuit that inverts the output of thecharger detection circuit 202 to utilize the inverted signal as acontrol signal of the switch 206 and the DC/DC converter 209. In thisexample, the inverting circuit 213 functions to turn ON the switch SW206 and the DC/DC converter 209 when the charger is not connected (theADP does not exist).

The AND circuit 211 and the inverting circuit 213 constitute a switchcontrol unit 204 that controls the switches 205 and 206 on the basis ofthe output of the charger detector 202 and the output of the batteryvoltage detection circuit 203. This switch control unit 204 may berealized with a hardware circuit or may be realized with softwarecontrol by the control unit 120 or the like.

Operation of First Embodiment

An operation of the charging unit 200 of FIG. 2 will be described nextusing FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the charging unit 200as a flowchart.

First, the charger detection circuit 202 confirms whether the charger isconnected to the connector 201 or not (S1). If the charger detectioncircuit 202 detects that the charger is connected (is in the connectedstate), the inverting circuit 213 provides the inverted output of thecharger detection circuit 202. This inverted output turns OFF the SW 206and the DC/DC converter 209 (S2). As a result, charging of the mainbattery 400 from the sub battery 300 is prevented.

The sub-battery voltage detection circuit 203 then confirms whether thevoltage (VSBAT) of the sub battery 300 is equal to or lower than apredetermined threshold (S3). For example, when a lithium ion capacitoris utilized in the sub battery 300, the sub-battery voltage detectioncircuit 203 determines a condition of VSBAT 4 V.

When the voltage (VSBAT) of the sub battery 300 is equal to or lowerthan the threshold, the SW 205 is turned OFF (S4).

As a result, when the voltage of the sub battery 300 is relatively lowwith the charger being connected, charging of the sub battery 300 fromthe charger is prioritized. Charging of the sub battery 300 is continueduntil the voltage (VSBAT) of the sub battery 300 reaches the threshold(S5).

Once the voltage (VSBAT) of the sub battery 300 becomes higher than thethreshold thereafter, the SW 205 is turned ON (S6). In this way,charging of the main battery 400 is performed from the charger throughthe charge control circuit 210 (S7). At this time, charging of the subbattery 300 from the charger is continued in parallel.

After charging of the main battery 400 completes (S8), the processreturns to the first step of S1.

If it is determined in step S1 that the charger is not connected to theconnector 201, the SW 205 is turned OFF and the SW 206 and the DC/DCconverter 209 are turned ON (S9), so that charging of the main battery400 is performed from the sub battery 300.

FIG. 4 is a diagram representing, as a table, the operation representedby the flowchart of FIG. 3. That is, this table illustrates operationstates (ON/OFF) of the switch SW 205, the switch 206, and the DC/DCconverter 209 in accordance with presence/absence of the charger andhigh/low voltage of the sub battery 300.

Advantages of First Embodiment

(1) Since the above-described charge control is charge control thatprioritizes charging of the sub battery 300 that completes in a shortperiod, users can acquire minimum electric power necessary for themobile device if the sub battery 300 is charged.

(2) If the charger is removed with charging of the main battery 400being incomplete after charging of the sub battery 300 completes,charging of the main battery 400 is automatically performed from the subbattery 300. Since the sub battery 300 shifts into a rechargeable statein response to charging of the main battery 400, the users can acquirethe minimum necessary electric power in the sub battery 300 in a shortperiod upon connecting the charger again.

(3) When the charger is kept connected after completion of charging ofthe sub battery 300, charging of the main battery 400 also starts. As aresult, since charging of both of the main battery 400 and the subbattery 300 is performed, it can be expected that uptime of the mobiledevice of the users increases compared with a configuration of the citedliterature.

(4) Hitherto, there is a method for preparing a charged backup secondarybattery, carrying the battery with a mobile device, and replacing thesecondary battery when a remaining battery level drops. In accordancewith this embodiment, it is possible to substantially increase a totalbattery capacity without carrying the backup secondary battery with themobile device. Additionally, troublesomeness, such as a necessity of awork for charging the backup secondary battery in addition to a work forcharging the secondary battery in the mobile device, is eliminated.

Modification of First Embodiment

FIG. 5 illustrates a modification in the first embodiment. As describedabove, the boost charger 500 can be connected to the connector 201. Evenif users do not have such a boost charger 500, charging can be desirablyperformed with an existing charger 600 not intended for boost charge.Accordingly, a conversion connector (or a conversion cable) 601 isinserted as an adapter for the existing charger 600 so that the existingcharger 600 can be connected to the connector 201. Herein, when theboost charger 500 and the existing charger 600 are not particularlydiscriminated from one another, the boost charger 500 and the existingcharger 600 are simply referred to as a “charger”. The second DC/DCconverter 208 converts 5 V/1 A into 4.05 V/1.23 A in an ideal state whenthe existing charger 600 is connected to the connector 201. Otherconfiguration and operation are the same as those of the firstembodiment.

Input/output characteristics of each DC/DC converter indicate thatcharging quicker than charging of the main battery 400 is performed evenwhen the existing charger 600 is connected.

In accordance with this modification, since the existing charger 600 canbe connected to the connector 201 using the conversion cable or theconversion connector, cost performance is good.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the configuration of mounting both of the subbattery 300 and the main battery 400 in the mobile device has beenillustrated. In contrast, a second embodiment targets at a case in whicha user selects and uses one of a boost charge battery used as the subbattery 300 and a normal battery used as the main battery 400.

Configuration and Operation of Second Embodiment

A configuration of a charging unit 200 of the second embodiment will bedescribed using FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, components similar to thoseillustrated in FIG. 2 are represented by the same reference numerals.

Similarly to the first embodiment, a boost charger 500 is connected to aconnector 201.

A second battery unit 303 including a boost charge battery 301 and afirst battery unit 403 including a normal battery 401 are configured tobe exchangeably attached to and removed from the charging unit 200 of amobile device. The battery unit 303 includes the boost charge battery301 and a battery identification resistor 302. The battery unit 403includes the normal battery 401 and a battery identification resistor402. The boost charge battery 301 corresponds to the sub battery 300 inthe first embodiment. The normal battery 401 corresponds to the mainbattery 400 in the first embodiment. One end of each of the batteryidentification resistors 302 and 402 is grounded, whereas it isconfigured that the other end is connected to a battery identificationcircuit 214 when the battery unit is attached to the mobile device.Resistance values of the battery identification resistors 302 and 402are set to be different.

The charging unit 200 includes the connector 201, the batteryidentification circuit 214, a current limiting circuit 212, a DC/DCconverter 208, and a charge control circuit 210.

The battery identification circuit 214 is a circuit for identifyingwhether the boost charge battery 301 is currently connected to thecharging unit 200 or the normal battery 401 is connected (or nothing isconnected). More specifically, the battery identifying circuit 214detects a difference between the resistance values of the batteryidentification resistors 302 and 402 to determine a state (a firststate) in which the boost charge battery 301 is connected or a state (asecond state) in which the normal battery 401 is connected (or nobattery is connected). When the output of the battery identificationcircuit 214 indicates connection of the normal battery 401 (orconnection of no battery), the current limiting circuit 212 operates(ON) to protect the normal battery 401 so that overcurrent does not flowtherethrough. In the illustrated example, a limit current value is setto 1 A. When the output of the battery identification circuit 214indicates connection of the boost charge battery 301, the currentlimiting circuit 212 let the current flow therethrough (that is, doesnot perform the current limitation).

Similarly to the first embodiment, the DC/DC converter 208 convertselectric power from the charger connected to the connector 201 into anoptimum level for performing charging of the boost charge battery 301 orthe normal battery 401.

The charge control circuit 210 operates when the output of the batteryidentification circuit 214 indicates connection of the normal battery401 (or connection of no battery). Operation contents thereof aresimilar to those of the first embodiment.

In such a configuration, when the boost charger 500 is connected to theconnector 201, the charging unit 200 identifies whether the attachedbattery is the boost charge battery 301 or the normal battery 401, or nobattery is connected by detecting the battery identification resistancevalue of the attached battery with the battery identification circuit214.

If the attached battery is the boost charge battery 301, the chargingunit 200 operates only the DC/DC converter 208 by bypassing (letting thecurrent pass through) the current limiting circuit 212 and the chargecontrol circuit 210 to perform charging of the boost charge battery 301.

In contrast, if the attached battery is the normal battery 401, thecharging unit 200 turns ON the current limiting circuit 212 and thecharge control circuit 210 to perform charging of the normal battery 401while protecting the battery.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a configuration of the current limitingcircuit 212. The current limiting circuit 212 includes a transistor 212a operating as a current control element, a resistor 212 b for currentdetection, a differential amplifier 212 c, a reference voltage source212 e, and a comparator 212 d. Output of a switch 205 is connected to anemitter of the transistor 212 a, whereas a collector is connected to oneend of the resistor 212 b. The other end of the resistor 212 b isconnected to an input end of the DC/DC converter 208. Output of thecomparator 212 d and output of the battery identification circuit 214are applied to a base of the transistor 212 a. When current flowingthrough the resistor 212 b exceeds a predetermined current value, thecurrent limiting circuit 212 increases base potential of the transistor212 a to limit the current so that the current does not exceed thepredetermined current value. In contrast, when the boost charge battery301 is connected, the current limiting circuit 212 compulsorily sets thebase potential of the transistor 212 a at a low level by the output ofthe battery identification circuit 214 regardless of the output of thedifferential amplifier 212 c to cancel an ON-state of the transistor 212a, i.e., limitation of the current, and shifts into a through state.

Advantages of Second Embodiment

(1) One of the battery unit 403 including the battery unit 403 of thenormal battery and the battery unit 303 including the boost chargebattery 301 can be selectively attached to the mobile device 100. Bytemporarily mounting only one of the battery units, reduction in sizeand weight of the mobile device 100 can be expected.

(2) Charging of both of the normal battery 401 and the boost chargebattery 301 can be performed with the same boost charger 500.Additionally, since the current limiting circuit 212 appropriatelyoperates even if the boost charger 500 is connected in use of the normalbattery 401, the normal battery 401 can be used safely.

(3) If users charge boost-chargeable battery unit 303 in a short periodand carry the battery unit 303 as a backup battery unit, the users canextend uptime by performing exchanging from the battery unit 403 to thebattery unit 303 before or after the remaining battery level of thebattery unit 403 becomes empty.

Modification of Second Embodiment

FIG. 8 illustrates a modification in the second embodiment. In thesecond embodiment, charging is desirably performed with an existingcharger 600 not intended for boost charge even if users do not have theboost charger 500. Accordingly, a conversion connector (or a conversioncable) 601 is inserted as an adapter for the existing charger 600 sothat the existing charger 600 can be connected to the connector 201. Thesecond DC/DC converter 208 converts 5 V/1 A into 4.05 V/1.23 A in anideal state when the existing charger 600 is connected to the connector201. Other configuration and operation are the same as those of thesecond embodiment. In accordance with this modification, since theexisting charger 600 can be connected to the connector 201 using theconversion cable or the conversion connector, cost performance is good.

Modification of Second Embodiment

FIG. 9 illustrates a configuration of a modification of the secondembodiment illustrated in FIG. 6. In FIG. 9, components similar to thoseillustrated in FIG. 6 are represented by the same reference numerals toomit a redundant description. In this modification, the current limitingcircuit 212 disposed in the charging unit 200 in FIG. 6 is included inthe external boost charger 500.

The battery identification circuit 211 transmits a batteryidentification signal, i.e., output thereof, to the boost charger 500through a connector 201 a. In this way, the current limiting circuit 212can be mounted on the boost charger 500 side and charging suitable forthe attached battery can be performed. In addition, the mobile device100 can be downsized. Furthermore, although the current limiting circuit212 serves as a heat generation source, the heat generation source canbe advantageously moved outside the mobile device 100 (in the boostcharger 500) in accordance with this modification.

Moreover, in the configuration of FIG. 9, the charge control circuit 210is removed from the charging unit 200 and is included in the batteryunit 403 of the normal battery 401. This configuration is advantageousin downsizing the mobile device 100.

Modification of Configuration of FIG. 9

FIG. 10 illustrates a modification of the configuration of FIG. 9. Asillustrated in FIG. 10, a conversion connector (or a conversion cable)601 is inserted as an adapter so that the existing charger 600 can beconnected to the connector 201 a the connector 201. In such a case,electric power conversion of the DC/DC converter 208 is from 5 V/1 A to4.05 V/1.23 A in this example.

Third Embodiment

Each of the mobile devices of the first and second embodiments performscharging in a contact state. In contrast, a third embodiment targets ata configuration of a mobile device supporting a non-contact charger.

Configuration of Third Embodiment

FIG. 11 is a block diagram representing a hardware configuration of amobile device 100 a supporting non-contact charging in the thirdembodiment. Components similar to those of the mobile device 100illustrated in FIG. 1 are represented by the same reference numerals toomit a redundant description.

A component added in the third embodiment is a non-contact charge powerreceiving unit 700 connected to a charging unit 200 a and a control line150. At the time of non-contact charging from an external non-contactcharge power transmitting unit (a transmission side), this non-contactcharge power receiving unit 700 is a part that receives electric powerfrom the transmission side and controls data communication with thetransmission side. Although various methods, such as loadmodulation/frequency modulation or other wireless communication, e.g.,IrDA and NFC, can be considered as data communication configurationsbetween the non-contact charge power receiving unit 700 and thenon-contact charge power transmitting unit, any method can be adopted.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of an internal configuration of thenon-contact charge power receiving unit 700.

The non-contact charge power receiving unit 700 is constituted by anon-contact charge power receiving antenna 701, a rectifier circuit 702,and a non-contact charge control circuit 703. The non-contact chargepower receiving antenna 701 is an antenna that receives electric powertransmitted from a non-contact charge power transmitting antenna (notillustrated) on the transmission side. The rectifier circuit 702 is acircuit that rectifies alternating-current power received by thenon-contact charge power receiving antenna 701. The non-contact chargecontrol circuit 703 is a regulator circuit for connecting output of therectifier circuit 702 to the charging unit 200 a and a circuit forperforming control of communication with the transmission side.

Furthermore, in the third embodiment, data communication is performedfrom the non-contact charge power receiving unit 700 toward anon-contact charge power transmitting unit 710 so that the receivingside can request the transmission side to transmit desired transmissionelectric power (transmission electric power in two steps, i.e., high andlow, in this embodiment).

A configuration of the charging unit 200 a supporting non-contactcharging will be described next using FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, componentssimilar to those illustrated in FIG. 2 are represented by the samereference numerals to omit a redundant description.

The configuration of FIG. 13 is about the same as that of FIG. 2. Adifference is that the connector 201 and the boost charger 500 or theexisting charger 600 connected to the connector 201 are replaced withthe non-contact charge power receiving unit 700. A sub-battery voltagedetection circuit 203 is connected to the non-contact charge powerreceiving unit 700. The non-contact charge power receiving unit 700receives electric power from the external non-contact charge powertransmitting unit 710.

Additionally, a DC/DC converter 207 a is a step-down DC/DC converterthat converts 20 V/0.25 A into 5 V/1 A in this example. A DC/DCconverter 208 a is a step-down DC/DC converter that converts 20 V/1 Ainto 4.05 V/4.9 A or 20 V/0.25 A into 4.05 V/1.23 A in accordance withoutput of the sub-battery voltage detection circuit 203. A DC/DCconverter 209 a is a step-up DC/DC converter that converts 4 V/1 A into5 V/0.8 A.

Description of Operation of Third Embodiment

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating, as a flowchart, an operation of thecharging unit 200 a in the third embedment. This processing is startedafter the transmission side confirms that the correct receiving side isconnected, starts transmitting electric power, and terminatespredetermined data communication and once the receiving side receiveselectric power.

First, a charger detection circuit 202 confirms whether the appropriatenon-contact charge power transmission side (the non-contact charge powertransmitting unit 710) is in a connected state, i.e., whether thetransmission side exists near a mobile device (the non-contact chargepower receiving unit 700) (S11).

If the charger detection circuit 202 detects that the transmission sideis in the connected state, a SW 206 and the DC/DC converter 209 a areturned OFF through an inverting circuit 213, whereby charging of a mainbattery 400 from a sub battery 300 is prevented (S12).

The sub-battery voltage detection circuit 203 then confirms whethervoltage (VSBAT) of the sub battery 300 is lower than a threshold or not(S13). If the voltage (VSBAT) of the sub battery 300 is equal to orlower than the threshold, the SW 205 and the DC/DC converter 207 a areturned OFF (S14). In this way, charging of the sub battery 300 from thecharger is prioritized. The non-contact charge power receiving unit 700performs data communication toward the non-contact charge powertransmitting unit 710 to request the non-contract charge powertransmitting unit 710 to perform transmission of high transmission power(20 V/1 A in this example) (S15). In this way, charging of the subbattery 300 is continuously performed until the voltage (VSBAT) of thesub battery 300 becomes higher than the threshold (S16).

Once the voltage (VSBAT) of the sub battery 300 becomes higher than thethreshold thereafter, the SW 205 and the DC/DC converter 207 a areturned ON (S17). The non-contact charge power receiving unit 700performs data communication toward the non-contact charge powertransmitting unit 710 to request the non-contact charge powertransmitting unit 710 to perform transmission of low transmission power(20 V/0.25 A in this example) (S18). Charging of the main battery 400 isperformed from the non-contact charge power receiving unit 700 through acharge control unit 210 (S19). After charging of the main battery 400completes (S20), the process returns to the first step of S11.

If it is determined in step S11 that the appropriate non-contact chargepower transmitting unit 710 is not in the connected state, the SW 205and the DC/DC converter 207 a are turned OFF and a SW 206 and the DC/DCconverter 209 a are turned ON (S21). In this way, charging of the mainbattery 400 from the sub battery 300 is performed (S19).

FIG. 15 illustrates a relation between presence/absence of the chargerand high/low voltage of the sub battery 300 and operations states(ON/OFF) of the SW 205, the DC/DC converter 207 a, the SW 206, and theDC/DC converter 209 a in the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram representing, as a table, the operation representedby the flowchart of FIG. 11. That is, this table illustrates operationstates (ON/OFF) of the switch SW 205, the DC/DC converter 207 a, theswitch SW 206, and the DC/DC converter 209 a in accordance withpresence/absence of the charger and high/low voltage of the sub battery300.

Advantages of Third Embodiment

(1) A connector 201 can be eliminated by the use of non-contactcharging. Additionally, safety improves, such as elimination of aconcern about external short-circuit of a power source.

(2) Optimum charge control can be performed by monitoring the voltage ofthe sub battery and changing the non-contact charge transmission powerin accordance with a charge status.

Fourth Embodiment

In a fourth embodiment, the configuration of performing non-contactcharging in the third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13 is combined withthe configuration of exchangeably attaching and removing the normalbattery 401 and the boost charge battery 301 in the second embodimentdescribed in FIG. 6.

Configuration of Fourth Embodiment

A configuration of the fourth embodiment will be described using FIG.16. The configuration of FIG. 16 is about the same as that of FIG. 6 butthe connector 201 and the boost charger 500 or the existing charger 600connected to the connector 201 are replaced with a non-contact chargepower receiving unit 700. In FIG. 16, components similar to thoseillustrated in FIG. 6 are represented by the same reference numerals toomit a redundant description.

Operation of Fourth Embodiment

As described above, a battery identification circuit 214 identifieswhether a boost charge battery 301 is currently connected to a chargingunit 200 a or a normal battery 401 is connected (or no battery isconnected). The detected signal is input to a non-contact charge controlcircuit 703 (FIG. 12) disposed in a non-contact charge power receivingunit 700. The non-contact charge control circuit 703 informs anon-contact charge power transmitting unit 710 (a transmission side) ofa kind of the connected battery via data communication. If the connectedbattery is the boost charge battery 301, the non-contact charge powertransmitting unit 710 increases transmission electric power to transmitelectric power suitable for the kind of the connected battery.

Advantages of Fourth Embodiment

(1) Although two kinds of batteries are mounted in a mobile device 100at the same time in the third embodiment, the use of the fourthembodiment allows one of a battery unit 403 including a normal battery401 and a battery unit 303 including the boost charge battery 301 to beselectively attached in the mobile device 100. By temporarily mountingonly one of the battery units, reduction in size and weight of themobile device 100 can be expected.

(2) Charging can be performed on each of the normal battery 401 and theboost charge battery 301 with the same non-contact charge powertransmitting unit 710. Additionally, since the transmission electricpower of non-contact charging is optimized even in the use of the normalbattery 401, the normal battery 401 can be used safely.

(3) If users charge boost-chargeable battery unit 303 in a short periodand carry the battery unit 303 as a backup battery unit, the users canextend uptime by performing exchanging from the battery unit 403 to thebattery unit 303 before or after the remaining battery level of thebattery unit 403 becomes empty.

Modification of Configuration of FIG. 16

FIG. 17 illustrates a modification of the configuration illustrated inFIG. 16. In FIG. 17, components similar to those illustrated in FIG. 16are represented by the same reference numerals to omit a redundantdescription. In the configuration of FIG. 17, a charge control circuit210, the charge control circuit 210 is removed from a charging unit 200a and is included in the battery unit 403 of the normal battery 401.This configuration is advantageous in downsizing of the mobile device100.

Still Other Modifications

Although the preferred embodiments have been described above, variousalterations and modifications can be made other than those mentionedabove. That is, it should be naturally understood by those skilled inthe art that various modifications, combinations, and other embodimentsmay occur depending on design or other factors as long as they arewithin a range of claims or equivalence of the claims.

For example, although transmission power is controlled depending on thekind of the battery in a binary manner, i.e., high and low, in theembodiments adopting non-contact charging, the non-contact chargecontrol circuit 703 may grasp a capacity of the connected battery andinforms the transmission side of the battery capacity, whereby desiredcharge power (charge current) can be obtained.

Although the mobile phone terminal has been described as an example ofthe mobile device, the present disclosure can be applied to given mobiledevices using secondary batteries, such as a game platform, a digitalcamera, a small PC, a music player, and a video player.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A charging device that is selectivelyconnected to one of a first battery that is charged at a first rate anda second battery that is charged at a second rate, which is faster thanthe first rate, the charging device comprising: an interface thatreceives electric power from a charger; a connector that is selectivelyconnected to the first battery or the second battery; a batteryidentification circuit that determines whether the first or secondbattery is connected to the connector; and a current limiting circuitdisposed between the interface and the connector and that limits acurrent of power received from the charger to a predetermined value whenthe battery identification circuit determines that the first battery isconnected to the connector, wherein the interface is a non-contactcharge power unit and the charger is a non-contact charge powertransmitter, and the non-contact charge power unit transmits datacontrolling a level of power transmitted by the non-contact charge powertransmitter based on the determination by the battery identificationcircuit.
 2. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the current limitingcircuit does not limit the current of power received from the chargerwhen the battery identification circuit determines that the secondbattery is connected to the connector.
 3. The charging device of claim1, further comprising: a direct current/direct current (DC/DC) converterdisposed between the interface and the connector.
 4. The charging deviceof claim 3, wherein the DC/DC converter converts electric power receivedfrom the charger to an optimum level for charging the first battery whenthe battery identification circuit determines that the first battery isconnected to the second connector.
 5. The charging device of claim 3,wherein the DC/DC converter converts electric power received from thecharger to an optimum level for charging the second battery when thebattery identification circuit determines that the second battery isconnected to the connector.
 6. The charging device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a charge control circuit disposed between the currentlimiting circuit and the connector that controls charging the firstbattery when the battery identification circuit determines that thefirst battery is connected to the connector.
 7. The charging device ofclaim 1, wherein the battery identification circuit determines whetherthe first or second battery is connected to the connector based on adetected resistance value of a battery connected to the connector.